新情報掲載

今週金曜日からファーストシーズン初のラウンドが行われるA1GP。
決勝スタート時に何台が出場するのかは知らないものの、最低20台は無難にスタートを切れるだろうと見ている。

という感じで、A1関連のニュースを追加。

Date : Dublin,15 September
Title : A1 Team Ireland's entry to the 1st-ever World Cup of Motorsport was revealed today

 A1 Team Ireland's entry to the first-ever World Cup of Motorsport was revealed today amid a spectacular smoke and light display at the Royal Dublin Society's Concert Hall. In a high-profile ceremony, the Irish green car was unveiled to the country's top dignitaries including the Irish government's Chief Whip and Minister of State for the Department of An Taoiseach, Tom Kitt before it makes its public debut at the Irish Motor Show tomorrow.
 A1 Team Ireland's Team Principal, Mark Gallagher spoke of the significance of including Ireland in the global A1 Grand Prix series. "Although we face stiff opposition from some of the world's largest nations as well as countries with highly developed motorsport industries, the fact that A1GP provides teams with a level playing field in terms of the car and technology means that the difference between winning and losing will be decided by driver ability, quality of engineering, team-work and race strategy. In each of these areas we are strong and to emerge fastest on the final day of the major pre-season test in Paul Ricard, France, demonstrated our potential. I am confident we have built a team capable of challenging for victories in the inaugural A1 Grand Prix series" 
 Announcing that 20 year-old Michael Devaney will make his race debut in the opening round of the A1 Grand Prix series at Brands Hatch on 25 September, Chief Executive of A1 Team Ireland Mark Kershaw explained the Team's philosophy on driver choice. "We are fortunate in Ireland to possess a small but highly talented group of drivers on which to draw for A1 Team Ireland. In Ralph Firman - A1 Team Ireland's main driver - we have someone who has not only won at every level of the sport but also raced in Formula One and is currently one of Team Honda Racing's leading drivers in the Japanese SuperGT series. When we signed him we knew he had conflicting commitments in the first and fourth rounds of the A1 Grand Prix series, so we are fortunate to have a rising star such as Michael Devaney to drive for the team in Brands Hatch. The World Cup of Motorsport is an innovative and exciting concept and in A1 Team Ireland we have the talent to compete for success."
 Devaney, who currently lies second in the German Formula 3 Championship said: "Naturally I am delighted to drive for the Team at Brands Hatch and I'd like to thank A1 Team Ireland for giving me the opportunity to demonstrate my ability against top international competitors. Every driver wants to be given a break like this and A1 Grand Prix enables countries such as Ireland to develop their drivers at international level. I am really looking forward to racing in A1GP." 
 Speaking at the launch of A1 Team Ireland, A1 Grand Prix Founder, President and Chairman, Sheikh Maktoum said: "Ireland has a strong tradition of competition in high-level international motorsport that will continue with A1 Team Ireland's entry to the World Cup of Motorsport. With the backing of Mark Kershaw, PJ Fallon and Mark Gallagher - all renowned for their motorsport expertise, and a bit of the traditional Irish luck, I am sure that A1 Team Ireland will do their country proud when the inaugural A1 Grand Prix of Nations takes to the grid at Brands Hatch next week."

アイルランドチームがA1参加ドライバーを発表した、らしいです。
タイトルの英訳が難しかったので、いつものお供、エキサイト翻訳を使用した。

Date : London,19 September
Title : Austria, Italy and Japan join A1GP to complete the season's line-up

 Three more teams, all representing countries with a proud heritage in motorsport, have joined A1 Grand Prix completing the grid for the first A1 Grand Prix of Nations to be held at Brands Hatch, Great Britain this weekend. 
 Testing today at Silverstone, the three teams have been busy setting up their cars and preparing drivers for the World Cup of Motorsport's inaugural race weekend beginning with the Series' first official practice session on Friday afternoon. 
 The Austrian car will be run by two legendary Formula One World Champions - Niki Lauda and Keke Rosberg. Arch rivals on track in the 1980s, the two men are now working together leading A1 Team Austria's A1 car to be driven by Mathias Lauda - son of triple world champion Niki. 
 Leading the Italian team is Piercarlo Ghinzani who, after a successful career as a professional driver from 1970-1990, founded his own race team in 1992. Matteo Bobbi, Gianmaria Bruni, Daniel La Rosa and Enrico Toccacelo are all in the running for the prestigious driver's seat but the entry for the Brands Hatch race will not be announced until the official driver sign-on this Thursday. 
 A business conglomeration will run A1 Team Japan's car which today was shaken down by ex-F1 star Hideki Noda but will be driven by Ryo Fukuda at Brands Hatch. The team will be run by Carlin Motorsport, a team with a string of racing titles to their name, most recently the British Formula 3 championship title. 
 These three teams complete the A1GP grid meaning that 25 cars, all representing a different country, will take to the Brands Hatch track on Sunday. Like all other teams, the deals run for the first three seasons - guaranteeing years of thrilling on-track action for fans all over the world. 
 A1 Grand Prix Founder, President and Chairman, Sheikh Maktoum, congratulated the teams on winning the remaining three franchises: "I am pleased to welcome three countries with such a strong motorsport pedigree to the A1 Grand Prix family. We now have 25 countries battling for the honour of being the best in the world, in a competition that starts in only a few short days." 
 "When our 25 A1 engines start for the first time this weekend, A1 Grand Prix enters a new dimension. After beginning as the vision of one man, and after three years of planning and hard work, I am proud to bring the World Cup of Motorsport to millions of viewers around the globe" he continued. 
 A1 Grand Prix CEO, Tony Teixeira who brokered the deals with the A1GP teams, commented: "We promised to deliver 25 teams by the start of the first season, and we've done it. We have offered seat holders, commercial partners, their sponsors and our broadcasters details on the sound business model on which we have based the A1GP series. This has made owning or supporting a franchise, and showing the races on television an attractive proposition. In fact, we have been so successful in generating interest in A1 Grand Prix, the national competition began before our cars have taken to the track. We've had to turn away applications from a number of countries to keep to our limit of 25 teams."
 A1 Grand Prix also revealed today that businessman Wade Cherwayko has taken over the franchise for A1 Team Canada with Sean McIntosh behind the wheel of the red and white car this weekend. 
 The addition of the three new teams means that 25 A1 race cars representing Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland and the USA will be seen on track for the first time.

オーストリア、イタリア、日本が新たに参加表明。

日本チームはブランズハッチでシェイクダウン。
ドライバーは元F1ドライバーの野田英樹さんと2001年フランスF3チャンピオンの福田良さん。(このメンツでA1出場か?)
フォーミュラ・ニッポンでは野田さんを個人的に応援している。
なので、福田さんでも良いが、できれば野田さんに出て欲しいと思う。

イタリアチームは一時期ミナルディのテストドライバーだったマッテオ・ボッビ、2004年ミナルディ在籍のジャンマリア・ブルーニ、私が初めて聞いた名前のダニエル・ラ・ロサ、今年のミナルディ3rdドライバーを勤める、エンリコ・トカチェロが候補に挙がっているとのこと。

オーストリアチームは、3度のF1チャンピオンに輝き、ニュルブルクリンクで大やけどを負ったニキ・ラウダの息子、マティアス・ラウダが最有力。